Nick Kyrgios on Why Roger Federer is GOAT

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Nick Kyrgios on Why Roger Federer is GOAT

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday February 8, 2021

Nick Kyrgios has made it pretty clear over the past years how he feels about the sports' top three players. But on Monday in Melbourne, when he was asked about the subject, he gave one of his most analytical answers about Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Kyrgios said Roger, in his mind, is the GOAT, and here is why:

I think in my opinion I believe Roger is the greatest of all time,” he said. “With his “skill set, the way he plays the game, I think it's pure. I actually think talent-wise Nadal and Djokovic aren't even close to Roger. Talent-wise, just purely based on talent the way Federer plays, his hands, his serving, his volleys, untouchable.”

Unlike other Kyrgios drag sessions, and there have been a few and notable, this was a more refined discussion. Could it be an indication that Kyrgios, in general, is ready to make more peace?

He continued, on the subject of Nadal:

“Rafa you will never see someone so dominant on one surface ever,” he said. “I don't think we will ever see that amazing accomplishment on clay, the best clay courter of all time. It's funny, because I think Roger is the greatest of all time but not the greatest of the era because his head-to-head against Rafa is not great. But it's a tough one.”

Kyrgios has been known to take a few shots at Novak Djokovic, that’s no secret, today he wasn’t as vicious, but still the Serb was the odd man out in his assessment.

“Me personally, I played them all,” he said. “I actually think Andy for me was tougher than Novak to play. I mean, I have only played Novak twice. I have played Andy six times and I'm 1-5.

“Nadal, I actually think, I match up quite well against Nadal. I can serve big and play kind of the right style of tennis to be successful against him. Styles make fights in tennis. All the matchups are different.”

In other words, they are all great – and don’t forget about Andy Murray. But in the end, Roger’s the one and only, according to Nick Kyrgios.

“Roger's chopped me a couple of times,” he said. “Roger makes you feel like you're really bad at tennis sometimes. He walks around, he flicks his head, and I'm, like, I don't even know what I'm doing out here.Roger is the greatest, for me. But Novak, obviously what he's doing now, look, I'm just watching him play Chardy and Chardy doesn't even believe that he can win, and when you reach that status, you must be pretty good.”

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